Category: General News

Kano State Governor, Dr Abdullahi Ganduje  has set up a Technical Committee to review the Almajiri system of education in the state.

The governor announced this in a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Abba Anwar and made available to newsmen on Monday in Kano.

The statement said the committee was expected to fine tune the system and recommend ways to stop students from roaming and begging on the streets under the guise of attending Qur’anic schools as Almajiris.

According to the statement, measures to be taken should focus on promoting the dignity and resourcefulness of pupils for the overall development of the state.

It added that the recent government’s pronouncement of free and compulsory primary and secondary schools education, would among other things, integrate Qur’anic schools with mainstream government-controlled schools.

“Where English, Mathematics, Hygiene education, among others would form part of the curiculum for the identified Almajiri schools.”

According to the statement, members of the committee constituted on Sunday, included notable Islamic scholars such as Gwani Yahuza Dan Zarga, immediate past Executive Chairman of Kano State Qur’anic and Islamiyyah Schools Management Board.

Others include representatives of the State Universal Basic Education Board, Ministry of Education, traditional institutions, Qur’anic teachers of great repute both nationally and internationally, and other critical stakeholders.

The committee’s Chairman, Dr Muhammad Tahar-Adam assured the governor of their readiness and dedication to deliver on the mandate.

“We will do our best to deliver in accordance with Islam both in practice and application.”(NAN)

Gov. Yahaya Bello of Kogi has come to the rescue of Mrs Omolara Oluyole, a civil servant in the state who needs to undergo kidney transplant to survive, by offsetting her medical bill of N10 million.

Oluyole is a deputy director at Comprehensive Health Centre, Nagazi, in Adavi Local Government Area of the State.

Oluyole was diagnosed of a chronic kidney disease at Zenith Medical and Kidney Center, Abuja, on January 18, and is in dire need of kidney transplant to survive.

A statement issued in Lokoja on Monday by Mr Abdulkareem Suleiman, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Multilateral, Donor Agencies and Special Projects, in Lokoja on Monday, indicated that the governor’s attention was drawn to the life-threatening situation of Oluyole.

Suleiman, who doubles as the Focal Person for Kogi Social Investment Programme (SIP), said the governor paid the N10 million medical bill on Friday to the Zenith Medical and Kidney Center, in Abuja, where the operation would take place.

“The governor, who is a passionate leader with original humanist principles, donated the sum of N10m for her kidney transplant, in spite of the paucity of funds and the economic situation of the state.

“Mrs Stella Omolara Oluyole is one out of many Kogi citizens that have similar critical health problems that our amiable governor has sponsored,” he said.

NAN

Gov. Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State has commenced the construction of four township roads in Bauchi metropolis worth N4.6 billion.
Mohammed disclosed this at the flag-off of the project on Monday in Bauchi, with a promised to execute more roads in different parts of the state before the expiration of his tenure.
He said that the road projects were to further assure the people of the state that his administration would provide more people-oriented projects in the state.
Mohammed listed the road projects as Gombe-Ibrahim Bako-Maiduguri 4.4km road bypass; Sabon Kaura-Jos road bypass; rehabilitation of Sultan Abubakar-Muda Lawal road and Yakubun Bauchi road.
According to him, the contracts are awarded to most genuine and reliable construction companies; Messrs Triacta and Habib Construction Nigeria Ltd.
He noted that the road projects would go a long way in decongesting traffic along the major roads linking Gombe and Maiduguri-Jos roads and boost the socio-economic activities in the state capital.
Besides, the governor said that the roads would enhance the transportation of agricultural products and general goods across the state.
Mohammed assured that the state government would fully compensate owners of the land and economic trees affected by the road projects.
“That is why we set up a committee under leadership of the Emir of Bauchi, Alhaji Rilwanu Sulaiman, and some district heads, to look into the formalities of the compensation in earnest,’’ he said.
Earlier, Mr Stephen Abubakar, the Permanent Secretary, state Ministry of Works and Transport, said the project would reduce traffic in the state capital.
He said Bauchi as a gateway of the North-East, the trucks plying the major roads would have free flow of traffic congestion as soon as the roads were completed.
He emphasised that the roads would be safer as well provide easy business transaction across the state. (NAN)
MAK/GOM/MST
Edited by Gregg Mmaduakolam/Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Some members of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria, IMN, popularly known as Shi’ites, have again clashed with operatives of the Nigeria Police Force in a protest, leading to the death of one suspected Shiite protester in Abuja.

Our correspondent reports that the protest turned violent when suspect ted members of the Shiites set ablaze the National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA’s emergency substation, situated around Federal Secretariat, Abuja.

The Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA) on Monday advised the Federal Government to deepen its intervention programmes that would develop medium and small enterprises and enable them to thrive.

Mr Mauricio Alarcon, Second Vice-President of NECA, gave the advice at a stakeholders’ forum for the Organised Private Sector in Lagos.

According to him, government should create an enabling environment for small and medium enterprises, since its various initiatives and social programmes at poverty alleviation by the poverty index are insufficient.

He said the long term solution to poverty include job creation, improved standard and quality of education, increased access to finance and policies that encourage investment and general well-being of the people.

The association’s second vice-president noted that private sector operators were worried because of Nigeria’s growing population, estimated about 200 million in 2018, which grew social vices rather than corresponding economic growth.

“That is why we urge government to take urgent steps to facilitate the completion of the Agbara Industrial Estate Road; Apapa Ports roads and other strategic roads in the nation.

“Billions of Naira is lost annually due to the deplorable infrastructure. Necessary support should be given to players in the power sector, including a positive review of the reform.

“Grandstanding, name-calling and buck-passing have left businesses and the public disenchanted,” he said.

Alarcon noted that government, as a critical stakeholders in the country’s project, should refocus its attention on the needs of businesses to fast-track development of the nation.

He urged the government to tackle increasing kidnapping and general banditry that had left many dead and others homeless. (NAN)

The African Democratic Congress ( ADC), on Monday rested its case after calling 29 witnesses and the Tribunal fixed July 29 for the respondents to open their case.

The party and its candidate, Jude Rex–Ogbuku are challenging the Feb.23 election for Ogbia Federal Constituency.

The party closed its case by calling Rex-Ogbuku as the star witness, before the Bayelsa National and State House of Assembly Elections Petition Tribunal sitting in Abuja.

The petitioners who dragged the Peoples Democratic Party( PDP), Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and 63 INEC officials, are challenging the election on grounds that the election was marred with irregularities by corrupt practices and or non- compliance with the provisions and principles of the Electoral Act, 2010 (as amended).

The petitioners are also challenging the election on the ground that the first respondent, Hon. Fred Obua was not duly elected by majority votes.

They are therefore seeking for the cancellation of the election.

Testifying, Rex-Ogbuku, alleged that from the 12 wards that election took place, particularly ward 5, party agents signed election result under duress.

When he was further asked if the result he was relying on in seeking to be declared the winner of the election was the one declared by INEC, he also answered in the affirmative.

At the end of his cross-examination by the three respondents counsel, his counsel K. Oyewole said he had no need to re-examine him.

The three-man panel, headed by Justice K.O Wosu, therefore adjourned the matter until July 29, for the respondents to open their defence.

He also fixed Aug. 14 for the adoption of written addresses. (NAN).

The Nigerian Army on Monday handed over 151 repentant Boko Haram insurgents to Borno Government for rehabilitation and re-integration into the society.

Maj.-Gen. Bamidele Shafa, the Coordinator, Operation Safe Corridor, made the disclosure during the handing over of the repentant insurgents at the Bulunkutu Rehabilitation Center, Maiduguri.

Shafa disclosed that the 151 male repentant insurgents comprised 132 adult and 19 minors, who completed 52 weeks of de-radicalization process at its center in Gombe.

He said that the clients were exposed to formal literacy classes, skills acquisition and Islamic Religious Knowledge (IRK) as well as drug and psycho-therapists during their training.

Shafa explained that the Operation Safe Corridor was designed to encourage Boko Haram insurgents to surrender, provide de-radicalization and rehabilitation programme, to enable them rejoin the society.

“The clients confessed their past misdeeds; denounced membership of Boko Haram group, asked for forgiveness and took oath of allegiance to Nigeria. I believe they are now good citizens to rejoin the society,” he said.

Shafa lauded the state government over its support and efforts to assist the repentant insurgents to reintegrate into the society.

Also, Alhaji Umar Kadafur, the state Deputy Governor, commended the Federal Government over implementation of Operation Safe Corridor to rehabilitate and reintegrate repentant insurgents into the society.

Kadafur said that the state government had adopted effective measures to accept the insurgents willing to voluntarily surrender and to create an enabling environment for them to rejoin the society.

He said that the state government had also directed community leaders to sensitize their people on the need to accept the rehabilitated insurgents, and warned against infringement on their rights.

The deputy governor added that the state government would support rehabilitated insurgents to set up their business, to enable them to engage in productive activities and contribute to the development of the society.

Tela Dandija and Kyari Buguma, some of the repentant insurgents, thanked the Federal Government for the amnesty granted to them and called on the insurgents still in the bush to surrender.

• They also called for support to enable them to set up their businesses in their respective communities.

By Joan Odafe
The Osolo of Isolo, Oba Kabiru Adelaja, on Sunday said that the rate of corruption among public officials would dwindle if traditional means of oath-taking is employed during their swearing-in ceremonies.

Adelaja said that the traditional process would put fear in the hearts of leaders on the need to be upright in their dealings with the people they serve and be accountable for their decisions.

The traditional ruler, who made the call while speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos, said that many politicians and government officials lack the fear of God because they see God as merciful and forgiving.

He said that if leaders are made to take oath of office through the traditional gods, most government officials would be more conscientious in carrying out their activities.

“Leaders know they can get away with Christianity or Islam, but if they take oaths based on traditional gods like Ogun, they will never steal, knowing those gods do not accept sorry.

“They know that the gods will not spare them when they err. You steal, you die.

“We must practice our culture; all tribes have different cultures. If it is adopted while taking the oath of office, our leaders will be accountable.

“Let us go back to our culture. Anybody who wants to hold any political office, that needs to carry out projects, should be made to swear before Ogun,” he told NAN.

The monarch decried the rate of corruption among leaders within their short stay in the office, which, he said, could be linked to the state of poverty in the nation.

“Majority of kidnappers being arrested are graduates. After all said and done, they will say it is because the have no jobs,” he said.

The monarch appealed to the various tiers of government to create more employment opportunities for graduates in the country.